Theft-prevention coin collecting assembly



Oct. 14, 1958 I H. GREENWALD THEFT-PREVENTION com COLLECTING ASSEMBLY Filed Dec. 16, 1957 FIG. 2.

INVENTOR HAR RY GREENWAL D ATTORNEYS United States Patent THEFT-PREVENTION COIN COLLECTING ASSEMBLY Harry Greenwald, Flushing, N. Y., assignor to H. Greenwald Co., Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 16, 1957, Serial No. 702,975 1 Claim. (Cl. 232-15) My' invention relates to improvements in theft prevention means for coin collection boxes of the self-locking type which are used in coin-actuated telephones and similar devices.

In coin-actuated devices such as telephones, washing machines and dryers, vending machines and the like, it is customary to utilize a self-locking coin collection box which is inserted into the device in such a manner that when coins are deposited in the slots of the devices, the coins drop into the collection box. Such coin collection boxes have a top opening for receiving the coins, the top opening being covered by a slidable plate when the box is not in inserted position within the device. When the collection box is inserted into the device, the plate is automatically slid out of registry with the top opening to uncover said opening and permit coins to drop therethrough. The collection box is inserted into a hollow coin receptacle portion of the device, which portion has a hinged or removable door including a lock. When the lock is opened, the door may be swung back or removed to permit the coin collection box to be removed and replaced. As the coin collection box is removed, spring means urge the slidable plate back into covering relationship with the top opening of the box and an automatic lock secures the plate in covering position in which it covers said opening and effectively seals the box so that coins cannot be removed therefrom. When the coin collection box is removed from the device, a new box is inserted and the front door of the device is closed and locked.

Despite the safety features built into the coin collection box assembly, it has been found that this collection procedure is still subject to theft by dishonest collectors who have devised a manner of avoiding the theft prevention features. This is accomplished as follows: A dishonest collector in opening the front door of a telephone or similar device removes the coin collection box which automatically locks itself, and prepares to return the sealed box to the collecting station. Instead of inserting a new coin collection box, however, he merely closes and locks the door of the device. The telephone or similar coin-actuated device is now in operation without a coin collection box, and all coins inserted therein merely drop to the floor of the device but cannot be seen or removed by users since the front door is in locked position. After a suitable period, the collector returns to the device, opens the front door, removes all of the coins therein, and inserts the new coin collection box for the first time. Thus, there have been a considerable number of coins deposited which have not gone into the coin collection box and of which there is no record.

It is an object of the present invention to provide means whereby it is rendered impossible to close and lock the front door of a coin-actuated device of the type described without inserting a new coin collection box therein.

This is accomplished by providing a coin collection box in which the front door of the device is integrally formed so that the coin box is removed with the door and also reinserted therewith.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following specification when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a partial front elevational view of the lower portion of a coin actuated telephone box showing the front door of the assembly of the instant invention in locked position closing off its access opening;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. l, with portions thereof further broken away to reveal inner constructional details;

Fig. 3 is an exploded sectional view corresponding to Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken along the: line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a front plan view of the front door of the device with the lock removed; and

Fig. 6 is a rear end elevational view of the lock shown in Figs. 1 through 4.

Referring in detail to the drawings and in. particular to Fig. 3, there is shown the lower end or hollow coin receptacle portion 10 of a coin-actuated telephone box. Such coin-actuated telephone is well known and is therefore not shown in complete detail herein, only those parts which are necessary for understanding of the invention being illustrated. The telephone box coin receptacle portion 10 is provided with a front access opening 12 which is sized to receive a coin collection box 14 for insertion of the latter into the hollow interior of the coin receptacle box portion 10.

The coin collection box 14 is of well known construction, having closed front and rear walls 16 and 18, side walls 20 and a bottom wall 22. The coin collection box 14 also has a removable cover 24 which is provided at its rear end with downwardly and inwardly bent studs 26 (shown in Fig. 4) which fit within corresponding slots 28 in the rear wall 18 to provide hinge means for opening and closing said cover 24. Formed integral with the front edge of the cover 24 is a depending closure flap or tongue 30 having at its lower end a slot 32 which receives a flat locking member 34 formed integrally with the front wall 16 of the collection box when the cover is in closed position, as shown in Fig. 4. The locking member 34 has a hole 36 positioned to be located outwardly of the tongue 30 when the cover is in a closed position of Fig. 4. A seal 38 may be inserted through the hole 36 to seal the cover in closed position and to prevent opening of the cover without breaking of the seal 38.

The cover 24 also has a coin-receiving opening 40 cut therein and positioned to register with a chute (not shown) or other guide means leading from the coin slots, when the coin collection box 14 is in its inserted position of Figs. 2 and 4. A closure plate 42 is turnably mounted against the under surface of the top wall 24 on a pivot 44, the closure plate 42 having an integral plate extension member 46 extending upwardly through a guide slot 48 in said top wall 24 and guided by said slot 48 for movement along the top surface of said cover 24. In the position of the extension member 46 shown in Fig. 3, the closure plate 42 is in registry with the coin opening 40 and covers up said opening so that coins cannot be removed from the coin collection box. Inthe position of the extension member 46 shown in Fig. 2, the closure plate 42 has been pivoted about its pivot 44 to an open position in which it is clear of the coin opening 40 and coins can be deposited through the latter. Spring means (not shown), urge the closure plate 42 to its closed position of Fig. 3. In addition, a spring-type automatic locking device 56 of the conven- Patented Oct. 14, 1958 tional and well-known type is provided to permit the closure plate-42 to -be brought onceto its open position, and which automatically locks when the closing plate is returned to itsclosed position, so that the closure platecannot again be brought-to its'open position with-, out actuation of a resetting knob 58 of the locking device from the inside ofthe coin collection box. Since this locking device 56 is well-known to those skilled in the art, it is not shown in detail herein.-

The coin receptacle portion 10 of the coin box is provided with guide and actuating flanges 50, 552. which guide the-coin collection box into proper inserted position within-the coin receptacle portion 10 and also serve to slide the extension member 46 between its open and closed positions. The flanges SOand 52 are; joined by a cross piece 50a which is carried by a bracket 68 aflixed to the wall of the receptacle portion'itl; as shown in Fig. 4,

whereby said flanges SO and 52 are suspended within the receptacle 10. The flange 2 is formed in two sections 52a and 52b separated by a slot 54 "and staggered to lie in different planes, as shown in Fig. 3. When the coin collection box'14 isinsertedthrough the frontopening 12, the extension member 46 enters the slot 54 and' strikes the leading edge'of'the rear flange section 52b; As the coin collection box is pushed further ,rearwardly into the coin receptacle portion 10, the extension member 46 is slid along the slot 48 to its open position shown in-Fig. 2. In this position, the extension member 46 projects a considerable distance beyond the side wall 20 of the coincollection box and its forward edge engages the rear end of the front flange section 52a. This contact of the extension member ,46 with the front; flange section-52a prevents the removal of the coin collection boxfrom the coin receptacle box portion withoutreturning the extension member 46 back to its original .closed position of Fig. 3, in which the closure plate 42 covers up the coin opening 40.

As was previously indicated, it is the usual practice to provide the access ,opening of the coin receptacle portion with a door or closure memberwhich is separate from the coin collectionbox and which may be removed and replaced regardless of Whether or notthe coin collection boxis in its proper inserted position. This gives rise to a method .whereby the theft-preventing feature of the assembly can be avoided ,by adishonest collector.

The collector, in making his rounds of the coin-actuated devices, opens the door and removes the coincollection box which locks itself on removal so that it must be returned to thecollection station f-or breaking of the seal. However, the collector then purposely fails to replace an empty coincollection box in the device, but merely closes and locks the door, carrying the replacement coin box along with him. As aresult, coins deposited in the device fall to the floor of the receptacle behind the locked door and collect there. Some days later, the collector returns, unlocks and opens the door, empties the coins collected in the receptacle, and for the first timeinserts the empty coin collection box. The collector pockets these coins and his theft goes unnoticed.

According to the instant invention, a door or closure member 60'is provided for covering the access opening 12, the door .60 being rigidly secured to the coin collection box 14. For this purpose, a spacer member 62 is, provided, the spacer member comprising a flat metal strip 64 having terminal L:shaped flanges 66. The metal strip 64 is secured flat against ,the front wall 16 of the coin collection box 14 by welding or similar means, while the bent end portions ofthe L-shaped flange 66 are similarly secured flat against the rear surface of the door 6i).

As shown in Fig. 5, the. door 6t) is provided with an aperture. 7tl-having straight side walls. The flat metal strip d l and-the front wall 16 of thecoin collection box 14 also have respective apertures 72 and 74 which register .withthe aperture 7%, w hile the rear wall 18 of the coin collection box 14 has an aperture 76 which registers with the three aforementioned apertures 70, 72 and 74.

The assembly is provided with locking means for releasably securing the door or closure member 60 in position covering the access opening 12 and at the same time holding the coin collection box 14 in its proper inserted positionto receive the coins deposited in the device. Such locking means includes a screw-type lock member 78 and an internally-threaded bushing 80 rigidly aflixed to the inner surface of the rear wall of the coin receptacle box portion 10.

The lock member 78 is of conventional construction and is therefore not shown in detail. It generally comprises a shaft 82 having a threaded end portion 84 sized to be received within the bushing 80. At its other end, the shaft 82 has a front terminal portion 86 containing a slot '88. The terminal portion 86 is rotatably received within acollar 90 which has an enlarged head-piece 98 containing a front opening 92' having slots 94,, one of which registers with the slot 88 of the shaft terminal portion 86. The collar 90 contains locking means (not shown) whichnormally engage the terminal, portion 86 of the shaft 82 and lock said shaft 82 against turning movement relative to the collar 90. To unlock the shaft- (shown in Fig. 3) is provided, the key having a face portion shaped to be received. within the slots 88 and 94 for de-actuatingthe locking means and rotating the shaft 82.

The collar 90 is sized to fitsnugly Within the door aperture 70,;and.has flattened side surfaces which register with the straight side Walls of the aperture 70 to preventthe collar 90 from rotating relative to the door or closure member 60 The portion of the coin receptacle portion 10 bordering the access opening 12 is provided .with a marginal flange 102 shown in Figs. 3 and 4, to provide a seat for the door 60, whereby the door may be secured flush with the front surface of the coin receptacle portion. In inserting the coin collection box 14, the door 60 is grasped and the coin collection box 14 slid through the access opening 12 and between the guide flanges 5t and 52 until the bushing 80 enters the rear wall aperture 76. ofthe coin collection box as shown in Fig. 2. Thismovement is continued until the door fitiseats upon the marginal flange 1M and covers over the access opening 12.

As. the coin collection box 14 is slid rearwardly into the receptacle 10, the plate extension member 46, being at the lowermost end .of the slot 48, passes beneath the flange front section 52a, as indicated in broken line at 46a in Fig. 3. As the box 24moves further rearwardly, the extension member 46 strikes the front surface of the flange rear section 5211, as indicated at 46!) in Fig, 3. Further, rearward movement of the box 24 causes the engaged plate extensionmernber to slideto the opposite end of ,the slot 455 and to move laterally into the slot 54 between the flange sections 52a and 52b, as shown at 46c in-Fig. 3. When the box 2-4. is in its fully-inserted position of Fig.2, the plate extension member 46 has moved laterallyoutward into the slot 54 and is in engagement with both the rear edge of the front flange section 52a and the forward edge of the rear flangesec-v tion-52b. Inthis fully-inserted position, the closure-plate 42 has beenrotatedabout its pivot 44 until it is. wholly out of registry-with the coin-receiving opening 40,.and the latter is uncoveredfor receiving coins deposited in the device.

The coincollection box is supported. in its fullyinserted position by the bushing 80 extending through the rear aperture 76 and also by the seating of the door 60 on the-marginal flange M2. The lock member 78 may now be inserted to lock both the door 60 and coin collection box 24 in inserted position. The shaft 82 is inserted through the aligned apertures 70, 72 and 74 and through the interior of the box 24 until the threaded end 84 of the shaft 82 engages the internally-threaded bushing 80. At this point, the collar 90 has entered the door aperture 70 and is held from turning thereby. The key 96 is inserted in the slots 88 and 94 and is turned therein, releasing the locking means and rotating the shaft 82 relative to the fixed collar, so that the end of said shaft is screwed within the bushing 80. The collar 90 is then drawn inwardly through the apertures 70 and '72 to the locked position of Figs. 2 and 4, in which the head-piece 93 engages the front surface of the door 60 and holds the latter tightly in its seated position upon the flanges 102. The key 96 is now withdrawn, locking the shaft 82 rigidly to the fixed collar 90, so that the shaft 82 cannot be turned without reinserting the key.

To release the door 60, the key is again inserted in the lock and the shaft 82 turned by the key in a direction to unscrew its threaded end 84 from the bushing 80. When the door 60 is withdrawn, the coin box 14 must be withdrawn with it. As the coin box 14 is slid outwardly through the access opening 12, the plate extension member 46, being in contact with the front flange section 52a, is slid rearwardly by said flange section to the rear of slot 48, at which point it is drawn laterally inward until it can clear the inner surface of the flange section 52a. The closure plate 42 is thus rotated back to its original position covering over the coin-receiving opening 40 and is locked in this position by the internal locking means of the coin collection box 14. The coinreceiving opening 40 cannot now be reopened except by access to the inner surface of the coin box cover 24, for which purpose the seal 38 must be broken at the collection station.

Since the door 60 is made integral with the coin collection box, it is now impossible to cover over the access opening 12 without inserting an empty coin collection box. The collector is provided with an empty, unlocked coin collection box for replacement, with the door secured thereto. In replacing the coin collection box, the door is automatically mounted in its seated position over the access opening, in the manner previously described, and insertion of the locking member 78 locks both the door and coin-collection box in inserted position. It is impossible to insert a coin collection box in which the closure plate 42 is locked in closing position because the closure plate extension member 46 would not clear the rear flange section 52b. The assembly is therefore fool-proof as a theft preventing device.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described herein, it is obvious that numerous additions, changes, and omissions can be made in this embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

In a coin-controlled device, a coin-receiving receptacle having a front access opening, a coin box proportioned with respect to said receptacle to be received therein by insertion through said access opening, said coin box having a coin-receiving opening at the top thereof, lockable closure means for said coin-receiving opening including an actuating member, means in said coin-receiving receptacle engaging said actuating member in response to insertion of said coin box in said receptacle for actuating said lockable closure means, a cover plate for said access opening, means rigidly securing said cover plate to said coin box, a threaded bushing rigidly mounted on the rear wall of said coin-receiving receptacle, said coin box having an aperture at its rear end positioned to receive said bushing when said coin box is moved to a fully-inserted position within said receptacle, said cover plate being disposed in relation to said coin box to move into bridging and closing relationship with said access opening in response to the insertion of said coin box to its fully inserted position within said receptacle and the actuation of said lockable closure means by said actuating member, said cover plate having an opening and said coin box having a front opening, said openings being in alignment with the rear aperture of said coin box, and a bolt lock insertible through said cover plate and coin box openings for engagement with said threaded bushing for locking said cover plate in position covering said access opening and simultaneously locking said coin box in its fully inserted position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

